Tauranga’s emergency services crews and volunteers will be running a drive for Tauranga Foodbank on Tuesday, December 2. Photo / David Hall
Emergency lights and sirens will ring across the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga on Tuesday night, as annual Emergency Services Foodbank Food Drives take place.
Collections will happen across Mount Maunganui, Pyes Pā, Matua, Katikati and Ōmokoroa on December 2 from 6pm-8pm, with police, fire, ambulance and emergency management crews and volunteers all lending a hand.
Organisers encouraged residents to leave a small bag of groceries by their letterbox, or send children out with supervision, when they hear emergency vehicle convoys approaching.
Organisers are need more volunteers to help collect donations, and people with cars and trailers, utes or small trucks to help transport food.
Extra hands are needed for flyer deliveries ahead of the event. Anyone keen to help is asked to apply with their email address, fitness level (runner, walker, or loader), and preferred area.
‘Vital for months ahead’
Tauranga Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin said the food drive reaches far beyond Christmas.
“The emergency services can’t get down every street in every suburb, so if people miss out on collection night, we ask them to drop donations to the libraries at Mount, Pāpāmoa, Tauranga and Greerton, or Tauranga Crossing,” she said.
“It sets Tauranga Foodbank and Salvation Army Community Ministries up for the months ahead. A lot of the shelves are empty at the Salvation Army, so it will really help stock up.”
Goodwin says the two organisations work closely together.
“We’re different services and do different things, but we complement each other. We are solely food focused, but we help them when we can, and they support us when they can.”
The Tauranga Community Foodbank is also currently being fundraised for as part of the six-week Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal.
Demand rising
Salvation Army Community Ministries manager Sarah Way said this year’s pressure on families has been “very real”.
“The cost of living and groceries… people are struggling themselves, so donating is hard. We’re seeing people walk through our doors who have never had a food parcel before, and we understand how overwhelming this is for them.”
The food drive also supports the Salvation Army’s Christmas grotto, which provides festive meals and gifts to about 150 families.
Way said the shelves at the Salvation Army are “not well stocked”, and the food drive is “paramount” to meet the need in the community.
“The food drive is life-changing for us to be able to do what we have to do this year. Without it, we would struggle to meet the need.”
More helpers needed
Mount Community Constable Mark Sanders, who has volunteered for more than a decade, said about 10 police officers and 40 volunteers from community patrols, Neighbourhood Support, ambulance and fire services will help out.
“More helpers mean we can cover more areas,” he said. “A big thanks to everyone who gives whatever they can. It all helps.”
True team effort
St John watch operations manager Matt Hunter, who was coordinating the event for the first time, said the night is a true team effort.
“Ambulance volunteers and staff will be out alongside our colleagues across police and fire. It’s amazing to be part of something that directly helps our local food banks,” Hunter said.
Fire and Emergency NZ volunteer support officer Robert Pinkerton said volunteers from Mount, Greerton and Tauranga stations will be on hand to collect food.
If your street is missed on the night, donations can be dropped at Tauranga Foodbank: 9am-2pm, Monday-Friday; and at Tauranga Salvation Army: 9.30am-11.30am and 1pm-2.30pm. The Salvation Army can also arrange donation drop-offs outside these hours.
Libraries at Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa, Tauranga and Greerton, plus Tauranga Crossing, also serve as donation points.
The 2025 food drive is supported by Western BOP Neighbourhood Support and Volunteering Services BOP. Volunteers are especially needed in Mount Maunganui, Pyes Pā and Matua on December 2. Unsupervised children cannot participate for safety reasons.
To help, send your email address, fitness level (runner, walker, trailer loader) and preferred area, to/: info@wbopns.org.nz or click here.